The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not only his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of three Australian summers in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
